THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
by Clement Clarke Moore
'Twas the night before Christmas,
when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring,
not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the
chimney with care, In hopes that
St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug
in their beds, While visions of sugar-
plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I
in my cap, Had just settled down for
a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose
such a clatter, I sprang from the bed
to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw
up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the
new-fallen snow Gave the lustre
of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes
should appear, But a miniature sleigh,
and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver,
so lively and quick, I knew in a
moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers
they came, And he whistled, and shouted,
and called them by name;
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now,
Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! on
Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top
of the wall! Now dash away! dash away!
dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild
hurricane fly, When they meet with an
obstacle, mount to the sky,
So up to the house-top the coursers
they flew, With the sleigh full of toys,
and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard o
n the roof The prancing and pawing
of each little hoof.
As I drew in my hand, and was
turning around, Down the chimney
St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his
head to his foot, And his clothes were
all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on
his back, And he looked like a peddler
just opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his
dimples how merry! His cheeks were
like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn
up like a bow, And the beard of his
chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight
in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled
his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little
round belly, That shook, when he
laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump,
a right jolly old elf, And I laughed
when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of
his head, Soon gave me to know
I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went
straight to his work, And filled all
the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney
he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team
gave a whistle, And away they all flew
like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim,
as he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."
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